Due to the eighth day of Pesach falling out on Shabbos, Eretz Yisrael and CHU"L will be one parsha off for the next several weeks. Since we are based in Eretz Yisrael, we will be following their schedule. Please click here for the dvar Torah and Podcast for this week's Parsha being read in CHU"L (Acharei Mos-Kedoshim).
Sefer Vayikra is known as “Toras
Kohanim”, as it deals with many of the different laws concerning the Kohanim
and their service in the Beis Hamikdash. Parshas Emor follows this theme by
examining some of the requirements and restrictions in being part of the Kohen
family. These were established in order to maintain the purity of the holiest
sect of the Jewish people. However, there is a story, albeit a tragic one on
the surface, which shows the holiness present within all members of Bnei
Yisrael.
At the end of the parsha, the pasuk
tells us of a fight between two people, a Jew and the son of the Jewish women. The
second man ended up publicly cursing the name of Hashem, an offense punishable
by death. Hashem commands the Bnei Yisrael, through Moshe, to kill the
offender, and they comply eagerly to fulfill the word of Hashem. This is seen
clearly as the parsha ends with the phrase, “וּבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל
עָשׂ֔וּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה” “And the children of Yisrael did as Hashem commanded Moshe”
(Vayikra 24:23).
By examining the pasuk
in its entirety, however, we can question why it was necessary to say this
phrase at all. The first half of the pasuk reads, “וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר
משֶׁה֘ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיּוֹצִ֣יאוּ אֶת־הַֽמְקַלֵּ֗ל אֶל־מִחוּץ֙
לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה וַיִּרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אָ֑בֶן” “And Moshe spoke
to the Bnei Yisrael. And they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned
him” (ibid). Hashem told Bnei Yisrael to take him out and stone him and
that’s exactly what they did; why does the pasuk have to follow that up by
saying that they did exactly what Hashem told them? Can’t we tell that’s what happened?
The Ohr HaChaim gives
several answers to this question. He explains that this whole story started as
a fight between two men. You could assume that the nation was siding with the
first guy and was only too happy to go along with Hashem’s command to get rid
of the second. The pasuk points out to us that this was not true; they only
went along with this because it was a direct commandment from Hashem, without
any thoughts of revenge. The second answer he brings is that while it wasn’t
possible for each and every person to physically take part in removing this
person from the camp, they all had intent to perform the mitzvah of fulfilling
the commandment of Hashem, and therefore they all received credit for it. So
the pasuk first mentions the people who physically took part in the mitzvah and
then includes everyone else in its fulfillment.
Perhaps the story of
an entire nation willingly participating in the killing of an individual isn’t
the greatest example to share of how eager we are to follow the word of Hashem.
However, this was not an out of control mob thirsty for blood. The pasuk (12)
clearly states that they placed him in holding until it was determined what to
do with him. They were ready to accept whatever verdict they were told. Only
once they knew what was required did they take him out and kill him. This whole
story is a testament to the desire of the nation to do only that which Hashem
commanded them to, and to do so with the purest of intentions. In this way,
they were all from the holiest sect of the nation, just like Kohanim.
Shabbat Shalom!
Click here to listen this this week's Podcast (Also available on Apple Podcasts)
For any questions, comments, or to subscribe to our email list, please email us at AIMeMTorah@gmail.com.
Please Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @aimemtorah
Don't forget to check out hashkafahandbook.com to learn about my book,Reality Check. And Like it on Facebook.
Don't forget to check out the Dvar Torah on parshasheets.com!
Check out our other AIMeMTorah project, Nation's Wisdom!
AIMeM
